Bradford & Bingley 32, Halifax 12

Bradford & Bingley eventually got their expected five points from this National League Three North derby – but it was a close-run thing.

After a tight opening half-hour on a sodden pitch, the hosts scored tries through full back Jim McBirnie and No 8 Aaron Enoka to lead 20-6 at the interval.

Right winger Liam Frost’s splendid solo try came just four minutes after the restart but, in a game of six yellow cards, the bonus-point try didn’t arrive until player-coach Stuart Dixon crossed in the 80th minute.

The Bees had to play for the last 13 minutes with only 14 men after Enoka was dismissed for a second yellow card but centre Dixon and the Halifax trio of hooker Steve Worsley, prop Adam Blades and No 8 Richard Brown were also carded.

It was a memorable day for Bees captain Joe Bartlett, who spent seven seasons with Halifax before coming to Wagon Lane.

The 29-year-old scrum half, whose side climbed above Hull Ionians to fourth from bottom with this victory, said: “Our third try (Frost’s) was nice but for me the fourth try was better.

“Our forwards went from one side of the field to the other while always going forwards and the ball went out to the backs and Liam (Frost) popped up a pass for ‘Dicko’ to score.”

Halifax full back Iain Gordon and Bees fly half Steve Brimacombe were both successful with two kicks at goal in the opening 27 minutes after the visitors’ prop Paul Turner had spilled a pass with the line beckoning.

The Bees couldn’t take advantage of Worsley’s absence but they did cash in when Blades was off.

Dixon’s sliced kick to the left-hand touchline in the 37th minute fell into the arms of left winger Mark Kirkby, and McBirnie scored after his inside dummy enabled him to beat three men.

Brimacombe added the conversion and also converted Enoka’s try in first-half injury time, the ball bouncing backwards off a Halifax player’s chest during the build up.

Frost weaved his way through from between his own 22 and halfway for a picture-book try early in the second half, but rock-bottom Halifax then revived hopes of a first win of the season after 11 straight defeats.

Gordon landed penalties in the 46th and 50th minutes after Enoka and Dixon received yellow cards.

In the 67th minute, Enoka got a second yellow for a high tackle, but Halifax’s hopes were hit three minutes later by Brown’s yellow card and Dixon’s late try sealed the bonus point.

Bartlett, son of former Bradford and Yorkshire flanker Dave, added: “We always knew that we would win this game and I hope it is the start of better things.

“We probably had the better of it but they fed off our mistakes.

“The first try was vital because the score was 6-6 and when we got another try before half-time it probably capped our best 20 minutes of the match.”